Industrial Design | Circular Economy | Design for Assembly (DFA)

System for Urban Resource Recovery through Circular Economy and DFA methodologies

Redefining “Waste” In a rapidly urbanizing world, the linear “take-make-waste” model is failing our cities. Poor management of the thousands of tons of waste produced daily in urban centers like Vancouver or Mexico City leads directly to methane emissions and lost resources. The objective of this system is a critical shift: transitioning urban domestic waste from a linear disposal problem into a closed-loop biological resource.

The core intervention is a Home-Based Pre-Composting Unit designed to process up to 5 kg of organic kitchen waste weekly. By facilitating early biodegradation in a controlled, low-oxygen, airtight environment, we transform “trash” into high-value pre-compost, returning nutrients to the urban soil and preventing organic matter from reaching landfills.

Technical Architecture & Materiality Rejecting the “planned obsolescence” of traditional plastic bins, this system is engineered for a 20+ year lifecycle, optimized for both manufacturing efficiency and end-of-life recovery:

• Design for Assembly (DFA): A radically reduced part count and standard mechanical fasteners (zero adhesives) streamline production, lower costs, and allow for intuitive user maintenance.
• End-of-Life Disassembly: Every component is designed to be separated in minutes for 100% recovery or recycling. The product itself never becomes waste.
• Material Selection (LCA): High-corrosion-resistant Stainless Steel for hygiene, locally sourced Canadian FSC®-Certified Maple Wood for tactile balance, and a Bio-Polymer (TPE) elastomer for ergonomic, recyclable seals.
• Urban Integration: Engineered as a compliant, scalable infrastructure for multi-family residential developments and Smart City initiatives, directly contributing to UN SDGs #11 and #12.

The Outcome: Systemic Regeneration Design is not just how it looks; it is how it works within a system. By combining physical design, localized infrastructure, and biological recovery, this system empowers users to act as active agents in the circular economy—starting right from their own kitchens.

This system was originally developed as an undergraduate thesis exploring Industrial Design as a catalyst for environmental change. > 📥

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